Industry draws male migrants to Manesar

Thanks to the sudden boom in urbanisation and industrialisation of Manesar, the tehsil has scored the least in sex ratio in Haryana.

Going by the 2011 census reports, Manesar has only 799 women for every 1,000 men. At this rate, the tehsil will soon have a predominant male population.

With several manufacturing units and multi-national companies setting their base here, Manesar has become home to an increasing number of migrants, especially from Bihar and Rajasthan.

“These migrants usually don’t bring their wives along. Hence, we find more single men living here,” said Dharamvir Yadav, sarpanch of Manesar village.

While there is an influx of migrants, the natives had sold their agricultural land holdings to the developers at hefty prices. Either these neo-rich left their villages to move to neighbouring states or they stayed back to work as labourers or executives in factories.

“This sudden increase in income led to an increase in disposable income too. These natives can now afford advanced health facilities and awareness level has increased. Considering that Haryana is a highly patriarchal society, they can afford a choice of heir,” said Anjali Makhija, group leader at the Institute of Rural Research and Development (IRRAD).

Proximity to the healthcare hub — Gurgaon — also facilitated this trend.

Yadav said Manesar’s population roughly comprises 25, 000 natives as against more than 1.5 lakh migratory population. Renting out rooms to migrant labourers has become a flourishing business here.

The tehsil is also known for its unsafe environment for women.

“It is mostly these migrants who indulge in eve-teasing,” alleged Yadav.

Health department officials said conducting the census in Manesar has been difficult due to its high-floating population.